Graphical Display of CPU Utilization

ABSTRACT

A method for graphically displaying central processing unit consumption for at least one variable capacity or uncapped partition including displaying CPU utilization or consumption of at least one variable capacity or uncapped partition in a variable-size colored pie chart. The pie chart shows time spent in at least one of user mode, operating system mode, I/O wait mode, or idle mode, with each mode being represented by a different color. An entitlement indicator is displayed for the effective minimum capacity of the at least one variable capacity or uncapped partition.

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.12/035,800 filed on Feb. 22, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for graphically displaying centralprocessing unit (CPU) utilization or consumption for variable capacityor uncapped partitions.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When using variable capacity or uncapped partitions, analyzing CPUutilization becomes quite a challenge because the partitions can have adifferent effective capacity at each interval, depending on cycleavailability in the shared pool and demand from the partitions.

Traditional ways to display CPU utilization or consumption consists ofshowing four percentages representing time spent in (1) user mode, (2)operating system mode, (3) I/O wait state, or (4) idle. However,displaying these four percentages does not provide enough information.For variably capacity partitions, these percentages are relative to amoving target (i.e., the effective capacity of the partition).Additional metrics need to be displayed, representing the real physicalconsumption in the interval, i.e. in real-time.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a method for graphically displaying centralprocessing unit utilization or consumption for at least one variablecapacity or uncapped partition including displaying CPU utilization orconsumption of at least one variable capacity or uncapped partition in avariable-size colored pie chart. The pie chart shows time spent in atleast one of user mode, operating system mode, I/O wait mode, or idlemode, with each mode being represented by a different color. Anentitlement indicator is displayed for the effective minimum capacity ofthe at least one variable capacity or uncapped partition.

In the detailed description, references to “one embodiment”, “anembodiment”, or “in embodiments” mean that the feature being referred tois included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Moreover,separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “inembodiments” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however,neither are such embodiments mutually exclusive, unless so stated, andexcept as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus,the invention can include any variety of combinations and/orintegrations of the embodiments described herein.

Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the methodshould become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The sole FIGURE illustrates displaying a variable size pie chart to showCPU utilization or consumption of at least one variable capacitypartition with an entitlement indicator displayed as a fixed circleaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE illustrates a method for graphically displaying CPUutilization or consumption for at least one variable capacity oruncapped partition. Variable capacity or uncapped partitions do notdefine free capacity, and the capacity of such partitions may fluctuateor grow based upon the use of other partitions.

As illustrated in the FIGURE, CPU consumption of at least one variablecapacity or uncapped partition 100 may be graphically displayed using avariable size (i.e., variable diameter) colored pie chart 110. The piechart 110 shows the time spent in at least one of a user mode 120, anoperating system mode 130, idle mode 140, and an I/O wait mode 150 aspercentages.

The pie chart 110 may show each of the modes in a different color or mayuse a single color to show two or more modes. In certain embodiments, aplurality of pie charts may be displayed, for example, side-by-side witheach pie chart displaying a different variable capacity or uncappedpartition.

According to the present invention, the pie chart 110 may be used toshow CPU consumption of at least one variable or uncapped partition fora single user or across a specific group or system. In embodiments, thepie chart may be displayed in a system interface, for example, in agraphic user interface (GUI).

According to the present invention, an entitlement indicator 160 is usedas a reference to show a minimum effective capacity for each variablecapacity or uncapped partition. The entitlement indicator may be a fixedcircle that overlaps the variable size pie chart. The variable size piechart may expand above or below the entitlement indicator. In otherembodiments, the entitlement indicator may be a bar next to the variablesize pie chart.

The entitlement indicator 160 allows for a quick visual comparison ofthe current, real-time variable size pie chart, which fluctuates orgrows with the actual CPU consumption of at least one uncappedpartition, with the minimum effective capacity for the at least oneuncapped partition.

By looking at the variable size pie chart and the entitlement indicator,it can be determined where CPU consumption is occurring (i.e., whetherand to what extent CPU consumption is occurring in user mode, in theoperating system, in I/O wait state, or in idle).

Although the FIGURE and discussion above are directed to CPU utilizationor consumption of at least one variable capacity or uncapped partition,the present invention may also be used to show utilization orconsumption of at least one capped partition. In fact, the variable sizepie chart and entitlement indicator may be used for modeling any metricthat changes or fluctuates with respect to a reference point inreal-time.

The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardwareand software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention isimplemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware,resident software, microcode, etc.

Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description,a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or apropagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include asemiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), arigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of opticaldisks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compactdisk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/Odevices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointingdevices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or throughintervening I/O controllers.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the dataprocessing system to become coupled to other data processing systems orremote printers or storage devices through intervening private or publicnetworks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of thecurrently available types of network adapters.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in a variety of computer programming languages.The program code may be executed entirely on at least one computingdevice, as a stand-alone software package, or it may be executed partlyon one computing device and partly on a remote computer. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected directly to the onecomputing device via a LAN or a WAN (for example, Intranet), or theconnection may be made indirectly through an external computer (forexample, through the Internet, a secure network, a sneaker net, or somecombination of these).

It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations andblock diagrams and combinations of those blocks can be implemented bycomputer program instructions and/or means. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of at least one generalpurpose computer, special purpose computer(s), or other programmabledata processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that theinstructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, create means for implementingthe functions specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams.

The exemplary and alternative embodiments described above may becombined in a variety of ways with each other. Furthermore, the stepsand number of the various steps illustrated in the figures may beadjusted from that shown.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of particularexemplary and alternative embodiments, it is not limited to thoseembodiments. Alternative embodiments, examples, and modifications whichwould still be encompassed by the invention may be made by those skilledin the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.

1. (canceled)
 2. A computer program product, comprising: acomputer-readable medium selected from the group consisting of anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, andsemiconductor system and having computer program code which executes viaa computer to: display a variable-size colored pie chart of CPUutilization or consumption of at least one variable capacity or uncappedpartition in a graphical user interface, wherein the pie chart showstime spent in at least one of user mode, operating system mode, I/O waitmode, or idle mode, each mode represented by a different color; anddisplay an entitlement indicator for the effective minimum capacity ofthe at least one variable capacity or uncapped partition.